This lesson plan introduces students to river ecology and addresses the societal and environmental impacts associated with dams and their construction. By understanding dams and their effects on the environment, students will propose the construction or abolition of a dam in their hometown or other geographic area. They will think objectively and critically about real issues affecting the future of ... Full description.

This lesson plan will explore the hydrologic cycle and the journey water makes to our glass. Upon completing this lesson, students should know and understand the components of the hydrosphere of Earth, especially the surface and subsurface features, and should be able to prepare a diagram to illustrate the path of their drinking water from the place of precipitation to the tap. Full description.

This lesson plan introduces students to the water cycle by having them help draw a picture of a lake ecosystem and adding human impacts that affect water quality. Students will help fill in the components of a drawing of a water system. They will conclude by creating their own illustrations of human-induced changes to the freshwater habitat of a lake ecosystem. Full description.

In this lesson, students observe a teacher-directed demonstration that provides a conceptual understanding of latent heat, the "hidden heat" present in all changes from one phase to another, by using a hand warmer. Full description.

In this lesson plan students will speculate on various scenarios of future world climates if the greenhouse effect increases. Upon completing this lesson, students should be familiar with carbon dioxide (CO2) and theories about its role in the greenhouse effect; the global conference that was held in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997 to set international limits on CO2 emissions; leading producers of CO2 emissions; ... Full description.

Students participating in this lesson will collect, observe, and record particulates from the air to contrast visible and invisible air pollution. They then complete a simulation of the damage due to acid rain to illustrate invisible pollution. The lesson plan provides essential elements, objective, focus, a list of materials, background information, procedure, and ideas for enrichment. Full description.

This lesson plan is part of the DiscoverySchool.com lesson plan library for grades 6-8. It focuses on glaciers and icebergs, specifically, glacial scraping and landforms left behind by glaciers, and information about icebergs in the oceans. Students do a lab simulating glacial scouring. It includes objectives, materials, procedures, discussion questions, evaluation ideas, extensions, suggested readings, ... Full description.

In this activity, students will learn how to read a Celsius-scale thermometer, associate weather conditions and seasons with Celsius temperature ranges, and keep a record of temperature. Students will read the Celsius temperature each day and discuss how given temperatures "feel". They record the temperature by using a string of beads and a chart. Full description.

This activity and demonstration teaches the concept of parallax (the apparent movement of an object caused by a change in the viewer's position) and relates the concept to a real-world astronomical event, ­the discovery of Pluto. It employs the Blink Comparator, an online simulation illustrating the technique used by Clyde Tombaugh to discover the ninth planet on February 18, 1930. Full description.

This module provides three activities that explore the potential impact of climate variability and change on Earth's most abundant resource, water. Although each activity is designed to tap specific skills and knowledge to yield scientific results, the broader intent is to stimulate thought about the long-term impacts of a warmer planet. Through participation in these activities, students will observe ... Full description.